Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-01-21
A WAK. ROMANCE.
An Elizabeth N. j., letter writ

An EllZaDeth ". e., letter writer
under date of thB 18th ult., says: Mrs
Harries G. Lesser is probably the
happiest women i'm this State tonight
for her husband, who has been missing
for twenty-five years, ate Christmas
dinner with her and the children, all Of
whom are now married.
She last hearGEof her husband as one
of Sherman's bummers of the famous
march 10 the sea. A comrade sent
word that it was believed that he was
killed near Atlanta or captured by the
COnfederates. Mrs. Lesser remained
faithful to the lad she married in old
England, and she told her friends that
until she saw proofs of his death she
would believe him alive. At noon yes
terday a tall and bearded stranger call
ed at her house and asked for dinner.
Mrs. Lesser noticed while she was set
ting the table the strangers dark eyes
followed her every movement She
saw something familiarin his eyes. He
remarked that he knew soldier named
Archibald Lesser, who served nnder
Gen. Sherman, and that he left wife
and threa little children in Syracuse,
NJ
Mrs. I.easer said that Archibald was
her husbands name, but that she had
been told over twenty years ago that
he was. dead. Her youngest child, a
little gia1. who was her fathers pet,
died seven years ago in this city, she
said, :snsi the last word she spoke was
"PapA-'
He is alive said the stranger.
springing to his feet: ..for l am Archi-
bald Lesser, and I have come, Lack
after all the weary years. Wife, don t
YOU know me?'
Mrs Lesser was not sure until the
stranger named all her children and
toA1 stories of their courtship and
marriage in England, and repeated the
last words he said to her when he en-
listed.
Last night there was a happy reunion
Of the father and his two sons. both
strapping big men, and he told them a
thrilling story Of his strange experiences
since he saw them playing about the
house in Syracuse, where he was Il
machinist.
In one of the skirmishes near
Atlanta | was severely wounded"
Lesser said: land fell into the hands
of the enemy
"For weeks I was i'll of brain fever.
and when | was able to 60 out of doors
could not remember anything about
my previous life. All was a blank to
me. People told me the War was
ended. There was something | tried
to remember. but no matter how tried.
could not recall anything. Aimlesslv
wandered about the country, folks
giving ME food and shelter as thev
would any harmless lunatic.
Il remember of working on the levee
at New Orleans, and on plantation
near Little Rock, and one day I found
myself in 4 Texas village. For seven
wears was cook and general servant
for cowboys. who had charge of thou
sands of cattle.
A raid was made upon us one night
by Mexican renegades and Indians, and
Ill but five of the seventeen men in our
gang were killed. The others escaped.
and was captured and taken bv the
renegade> to the mountains. where I
was I servant for the robbers | slept
in L rock cave in which 4 sentry paced
night and day. Senior Cascar was the
leader of the baud. He was a tail man.
Of wirv build While l was 4 prisoner
he brought a score of American and
Mexican girls to the mountain us cap
tlves and held them for ransom money.
One OF the Mexican girls, a very hand
some woman, stabbed him in the right
shoulder with \ poniard one night.
She was thrown from tall cliff next
morning, and saw wild animals eat
her body in the ravine.
Three years ago l was with q band
of cowboys in New Mexico, having
escaped from the Mexicans long before.
| saved money, but could not remem-
Der my name or incidents connected
with my former life. Seventeen months
ago went out with Bob Robinson, our
leader, whose father is Newark
physician. to ronnd up our cattle into
camp. The crack of 4 rifle startled us.
l fell with Il bullet in nv thigh, and
my horse fell on me so heavily that
was left for dead. Our men were
driven to the settlement by Red Bess
and his devils, and one bloodthirsty
Indian took my scalp. Fortunately he
was clever with the knife, and only re-
moved the skin and hair from the tor
of my head. A friendly Indian, who
was kind to me because he thought the
Great Spirit made me lunatic, nursed
me back to life and strength. As
recovered my bodily strength my
memory returned slowly.
bit by bit, all the events of my life
since boyhood came back to me. Il
was strange, however, that my mar.